Offerings of Well-Being

3 “If the offering is a sacrifice of well-being, if you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you shall offer one without blemish before the Lord.^{(A) 2} You shall lay your hand on the head of the offering and slaughter it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall dash the blood against all sides of the altar.^{(B) 3} You shall offer from the sacrifice of well-being, as an offering by fire^[a] to the Lord, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is around the entrails,^{(C) 4} the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the appendage of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. ⁵ Then Aaron’s sons shall turn these into smoke on the altar, with the burnt offering that is on the wood on the fire, as an offering by fire^[b] of pleasing odor to the Lord.^(D)

⁶ “If your offering for a sacrifice of well-being to the Lord is from the flock, male or female, you shall offer one without blemish.^{(E) 7} If you present a sheep as your offering, you shall bring it before the Lord^{(F) 8} and lay your hand on the head of the offering. It shall be slaughtered before the tent of meeting, and Aaron’s sons shall dash its blood against all sides of the altar.^{(G) 9} You shall present its fat from the sacrifice of well-being, as an offering by fire^[c] to the Lord: the whole fatty tail, which shall be removed close to the backbone, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is around the entrails, ¹⁰ the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the appendage of the liver, which you shall remove with the kidneys.^{(H) 11} Then the priest shall turn these into smoke on the altar as a food offering by fire^[d] to the Lord.^(I)

¹² “If your offering is a goat, you shall bring it before the Lord ¹³ and lay your hand on its head; it shall be slaughtered before the tent of meeting, and the sons of Aaron shall dash its blood against all sides of the altar. ¹⁴ You shall present as your offering from it, as an offering by fire^[e] to the Lord, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is around the entrails, ¹⁵ the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the appendage of the liver, which you shall remove with the kidneys. ¹⁶ Then the priest shall turn these into smoke on the altar as a food offering by fire^[f] for a pleasing odor.

“All fat is the Lord’s.^{(J) 17} It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, in all your settlements: you must not eat any fat or any blood.”^(K)

4 ¹ Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

² Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.^{(A) 3} At the same time, pray for us as well, that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison,^{(B) 4} so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should.

⁵ Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.^{[a](C) 6} Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.^(D)

Final Greetings and Benediction

⁷ Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord.^{(E) 8} I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are^[b] and that he may encourage your hearts; ⁹ he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.^(F)

¹⁰ Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him.^{(G) 11} And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my coworkers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. ¹² Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ,^[c] greets you. He is always striving in his prayers on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured^[d] in everything that God wills.^{(H) 13} For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.^{(I) 15} Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church in her^[e] house.^{(J) 16} And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. ¹⁷ And say to Archippus, “See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.”^(K)

¹⁸ I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.^[f](L)